To metal



.I. BERG.

SEAL MOISTENING MA CHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- I4, m1.

1,314,941. PatentedSept.'2, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIQN 01R, SIE GIALTI E S MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ,ILLINOI S, .A OFILLINOIS.

SEAL-MOISTENING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2 1919.

I a To all whom it may "concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Brno, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in SeaLMoiste'ning Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to machines adapted for moistening gummed seals and labels to enable the seals to be readily applied to apackage or envelop.

The primary object is to provide an improved machine which is particularly well adapted to the purpose of moistening seals of the character employed for securing parcel-post packages, or the like, where it is desirable to enable the contents of the pack age to be inspected by the postal authorities.

Such a seal usually comprises two members, each provided with a gummcd surface, said members having interlocking connections of a character enabling the package to be held securely fastened, said members being, however, readily separated or detached from each other to enable the contents of the package to be inspected. I The invention 1s illustrated in its pre ferred embodiment in the accompanying' drawing, in which- Figure 1 represents a plan view of a moistening machine embodying the invention, one of the presser-rolls employed being shown brokenly; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view taken as indicated in line 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a rear, side view of the machine with the roll-shields and presser-rolls mounted thereon broken away; Fig. 4, an outer plan view of a two-part seal, the gummed surfaces of which may be moistened readily by means of the improved machine; Fig. 5, an inner face view of said seal; and Fig. 6, a broken sectional view, showing a modification of the machine.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.'13, A represents a waterfont which is supported by legs A; B, B, a pair of alined moistening-rolls securedon a shaft B having its ends journaled in the end walls of the water-font; G, C, a pair of roll shields disposed above the moisteningrolls B and supported upon the ends of the water-font; D, D, a pair of presser-rolls which rest upon the moistening-rolls B and are loosely mounted in suitable brackets car- '56 ried by the members (I; and E, a receptacle orholder for seals, said holder being detachably connected with one side of the waterfont and having a guide wallFfl located be- ;ween the holder and one side of the wateront.

The water-font A preferably comprises a trouglrlike body or half cylinder, supported at its ends by the legs A, as indicated, and

having its end walls provided at their upper edges 'with bearings 1 for the ends of; the shaft B The moistening-rolls B, B, are

preferably composed of porcelain, and fixed.

on the shaft B beingscp'a'rated from each other by a space 2. In the illustration given, the rolls are provided with hubs 3, but this feature is unimportant.

Each of the shields C preferably c0m-.

prises a substantially horizontal sheet-metal member 4i, whose outer end is provided with a downturncd arm L, which is secured to the corresponding end wall of the font A, as by means of screws 5. Each shield C is provided with a longitudinal slot 6, enabling the pre'sser-rolls D to extend. therethrough and make contact with the moistening-rolls B, upon which they rest.

The rolls D preferably are composed of metal, or glazed'porcelain, and provided with short reduced extensions 7 which are supportedin elongated or slotted hearings in lugs or flanges 8. with which the shields are provided.

The bod of each shieldv C comprises a substantial y fiat horizontal member, and the inner ends of said shields are separated by a space corresponding with the space 2 between the moistening-rolls. The lateral edges of each shield C are curved upwardly, asindicated at 9 and 9 in Fig. 2. The shield provides a surface 9" which is spaced slightly above the moistening-roll B; and the presser-roll Dextends below the surface 9 and rests upon the roll B.

The seal-holder E in the form illustrated, comprises a receptacle 10 which is adapted tosupport a pack of seals F on edge, as may be understood fromFig. 2. The receptacle 10 may be formed of sheet-metal, bentinto U-form to afford a channel or space 10 in which the seals may be supported on edge. From the upper portion of the innerlateral. wall of th'eholder 10, there extends the inclincdIguide-wall E over which the seal may be drawn by the thumb an'dfinger as the ends of' theseal are passed between the moistening-rolls and [superposed presser-rolls. The wall E may be formed integrally with the inner wall of the receptacle 10, as illustrated in 2. Preferably, the wall or apron E is pro-- vided at its upper edge with a hook or. flange 11 which hooks over theupper edge a of the adjacent wall of the water-font. In

the illustration given, the metal ofthe apron 1- E is incised to provide 'a central tongue 12 at the upperjportionof the apron, Which is bent downwardly, so that its edge" will engage the outer surface of the wall of the V water-font in the manner illustrated in Fig.

2. Thus, the integral seal-holder and apron is detachably secured to one side-wall of the water-font. Preferably, the receptacle inclines outwardly and upwardly, as

illustrated in Fig. '2. Also, by forcing the tongue 12'downwardly to the position shown in" Fig. 2, there is provided through the upper portion of the inclined apron E a comparatively wide slot or space 12* which. is in transverse alinement with the space .2 between the moisteningerolls B. This facilitates the operation of drawing a seal" up the inclined surface E and between the 'moistening-rolls and :presser-Irolls, the thumb andfinger passing through the space between the' moistening-rolls': The shields G serve not only; as supports for the presser-" rolls D, but also as guides beneath which the gummed ends ofthesealqwill pass. 'Between the flanges 9 and the upper portion of the'a'pron'E there is afforded a throat 13 through which-the'end-portions' of the seal pass on the way to the rolls.

It is desirable to provide the devicefE with yielding. means for holding'the seals F in position. there are provided two yielding fingers 14 which are adapted to engage the upper edges of -the seals. Each of the fingers 1 1 preferably comprises, a thin metal-bar which is of springy character and ofangular form.

Each of said members has a shank 1 P- which is adjustably connected with the outer wall of the receptacle 10. "Said shanks are inc1ined,or convergent upwardly, so'that the edges of the fingers '14 will contact with the upper edges of the seals. 14;iS provided with a series of perforations 15, any one of which may engage a pin or stud 15? carried by the outer 'wall 'of the receptacle lO; and each shank 14 is provided'with a slot 16 which is engaged by a screw 17 extending therethrough and into the outer wall of the receptacle 10. .The-

outer wall of the receptacle 10 maybe cut away,as indicated at '10 ,although this is a matter of small-importance.

The machineis well adapted to the purpose of moistening the gummed surfaces of the two-partseal-F,illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The seal illustrated comprisess'ome- In the" illustration given,-

Each shank Whatstifi papcr stripslS 19, the strip '18 having a pair of slots 18*,an'dthe strip 19 having tongues 19 detachably interlocked with the slots 18 The inner surfaces of said stripsare gummed, as indicatediat 18 and 19 A pack. of the seals F may be inserted V in the holder E, the lower longitudinal edges of the seals resting in the bottom of j 7 v the receptacle and the upper .longitudinal edges of the seals contacting withthe yield ing fingers 14, the'gummed surfacesof the the reinforced, interlocking central portions of the two-part seals will be so disposed that the interlockingportion of the sealsbeing turned toward the font A. Thus,

seal maybe graspedby-the thumb and fin ger; and the operator standing in front ofthe machine, will draw these'al upwardly over the inclined apron E through the throat 13 and between the-moistening-rolls B and presser-rolls D. The guide-shields C insure theapproximate proper passage;

of the seal'in a horizontal position through the machine; and the 'presser-rolls; cause. the gummed surfaces of the seal "to bear against the upper surfaces of the moisten V V ing-rolls. [As the seal is drawn through,

' the rolls are thereby rotated, it being under- 1 g stood thatthe lower portions of the moistenf ing-rolls are immersed in water, so that moisture will be supplied'to the gummed" surfaces of the seals as they. pass over the moistening-rolls.

V The water-font may be'readily cast in the. form illustrated; and the otherelements of the device may be readilyapplied. It will be understood, therefore, that themachine is practically of knock-down construction that it may be cheaply .manufactured and easily assembled; and that it is well adapted to thepurpose of moistening two-part seals, such as are desirable for fbook-post, parcel post, and wrappers and packages, Y

generally, where itis necessary or-desirable to be able to undo the package and do it up again; The machine may be used'for moistening labels, also; a

In the modification'shown in Fig. 6, A represents the water-font; G a shield or Presser-member, supported like the shields C and co-acting with-the moistening' roll B and"F a seal or label being passed through the machine. In this case, the shield or presser-memberC is curved or bowed concentrically with the moisteningroll, and the presser-roll is dispensed with; The space between the member 0 and roll B is sufficientlyconstricted to cause the seal. V 1

corresponding screw 5 to be slightly loosed to permit the shield 6 to be rotated about the other screw 5, thus giving access to the moistenin roll and interior of the waterfont for the purpose of cleansing the same.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearncss of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a water-font, a pair of alined, spaced moistening-rolls mounted therein, a pair of spaced guide-shields mounted on said font and provided with longitudinal slots above the moistening rolls, a pair of presser-rolls mounted on said guide-shields and depending through said slots, and a seal-holder disposed at one side of said font.

2. in a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a water-font, a moistening-roll-device, journaled therein, a pair of guide-shields mounted on said font and separated by an upwardly open space, and a pair of presser-rolls mounted on said guide-shields and depending through slots therein and co-acting with the moisteningroll-device.

3. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a water-font, a moistening-roll device journaled therein, a pair of guide-shields mounted on the ends of said font and separated by an upwardly open space, each guide-shield comprising an angular member having a vertical arm mounted on the end-portion of the font and a plate projecting over the font and provided at its inner end with an upturned flange affording a bearing, said plate having also a longitudinal slot and a hearing at the outer end of said slot, and a presser-roll depending through each slot and co-acting with the moistening-roll device, each presser roll hav ing journals loosely supported in said bearings to permit vertical movement of the presser-roll.

4. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a water-font, a moistenin i-roll device journaled therein, a guideshleld mounted on each end of said font, each guide-shield being connected with an end of the font by a pivot disposed at one side of and extending parallel with the axis of the moistening-roll device, whereby the guide-shield may be swung on an axis parallel with the axis of the font to uncover the moistening-roll device, and a presserroll mounted on each guide-shield and depending through a slot therein and co-actmg with the moistening-roll device.

5. In a machine of the character set forth,

the combination of a water-font provided with supporting standards, a moisteningroll device journaled in said water-font, presser devices co-acting with said moistening-roll device, said presser devices being separated by an upwardly open space, and a seal receptacle disposed at one side of said water-font and having an inclined apron provided with a hook engaging the upper edge of one side of the water-font, the central portion of said apron being struck downwardly and serving as a brace engaging the side of the water-font.

JOHN BERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

